Logo image
40 - Gastrointestinal Motility
Book chapter

40 - Gastrointestinal Motility

Michael G. Sarr, Joseph J. Cullen and Mary F. Otterson
Surgical Research, pp.507-532
Academic Press
2001
DOI: 10.1016/B978-012655330-7/50042-3

View Online

Abstract

This chapter discusses the physiology of smooth muscle contraction of the gut, with special reference to aspects of the techniques to measure contractile activity. Gastrointestinal (GI) motility depends on the presence of contractile activity within the gut to create the forces that move intestinal content distally (or proximally during vomiting). One might choose to measure contractile activity either directly or indirectly, or to measure the movement/transit of the luminal content out of the stomach (gastric emptying), through the small and/or large intestine (intestinal transit), and finally its discharge from the gut (defecation). GI motility ultimately depends on intestinal smooth muscle contractions that generate the force needed to move intraluminal content along the gut. The final common pathway of intestinal smooth muscle contractions depends on the intracellular release of calcium. Once liberated, the intracellular calcium induces the intracellular mechanisms controlling interaction of contractile proteins leading to cell shortening.

Details

Metrics

40 Record Views
Logo image